Shape rolling



March 19, 1935. H. P. INGRAM 1,994,711

SHAPE ROLL ING Filed Aug. 28, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l L M/ I 'I March 19, 1935. [NGRAM 1,994,711

SHAPE ROLLING Filed Aug. 28, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 emfm":

P zz/kd H. P. INGRAM SHAPE ROLLING March 19, 1935.

Filed Aug. 28, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 egit Harold 1P.

w w ram, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application Ant 28, 1933, Serial No. 68 1,2111

My invention relates to the rolling of shapes by a structural mill whose intermediate passes cannot advantageously bring them to sections most suited for reception by its finishing pass. it This trouble is generally caused by the limitations of the mills intermediate passes, it being understood that these are formed by grooved rolls and that the lengths of these rolls are limited according to the size of the mill, this limiting the number of grooves possible and, consequently, the number of passes. Therefore, it is not always that shapes of certain cross-sections can be brought to sections most suited for proper entry into the finishing pass. Sometimes this is because the complexity of the desired shapes requires more passes than are available, or it may be caused by economic conditions which compel the use of the same rolls for the production of difierent shapes, it being kept in mind that the initial cost and maintenance of an extensive roll inventory is rather great. Further, rolls having too many grooves are so weakened as to be unreliable in service.

One of my objects is to produce shapes having sections which ordinarily cannot be advantageously rolled by a conventionalstructural mill because of the above limitations of its intermediate passes.

I desire to attain this object without using another stand of working or reducing rolls, because-their provision would require complete redesigning of the mill and would result in a new mill of an entirely different character. Other objects may be inferred from the various features of my invention.

Fundamentally, my invention consists in combining with a structural mill includingrolls providing intermediate and finishing passes, a guiding means constructed and arranged to alter the cross-sections of shapes while being worked through these intermediate passes and becross-section to another.

Before going further, it is to be understood that while the intermediate passes of a structural mill of the character under discussion can usually work a shape to the cross-sectional area demanded by its finishing pass, it cannot always properly bring it to a cross-section of a form entirely suitable for finishing.

The guiding means mentioned is intended to guide the shapes to such a form. This may necessitate spreading, flattening or other alteration, except that no reduction or elongation is contemplated. Of course, a theoretical reduction always occurs when hot work contacts guiding surfaces, but this is so slight as to be nonexistent for practical purposes.

More specifically, my invention consists in arranging the guiding means adjacent any one working pass of the intermediate passes whereby the latter may drive the shapes through the former. Power means may be provided for clearing the shapes from the guiding means when their tail ends have left the intermediate pass mentioned. Further, the guiding means may consist of a set of stationary guides constructed to provide a guideway having a shape substantially corresponding to that of one of the intermediate passes at its entrance and gradually changing to at least an approximation of a succeeding pass. Instead of stationary guides, roller guides constructed to provide a guiding pass of substantially the same shape as that of the succeeding pass may be used.

While either of the above mentioned guiding means are effective, at the time of writing I believe it preferable to use them in combination.

Thus, the set of roller guides may be arranged in line with any one of the intermediate pass to receive shapes exiting therefrom and may be constructed to provide a guiding pass of substantially the same shape as that of the succeeding pass. Then the set of stationary guides may be arranged between these roller guides and'the selected intermediate pass, to lead shapes from the latter to the former, these stationary guides being constructed to provide a guideway having a shape substantially conforming to that of the named intermediate pass at its entrance and gradually changing to an approximation of that of the succeeding pass as it approaches the roller guides. Further, these roller guides may be provided with a power means for revolving them.

In the operation of this preferable form of the invention, a shape is worked down through the intermediate passes. As it leaves the one of these passes it isdriven through the stationary guides so that it gradually approximates the shape more suited for finishing. Therefore, when it reaches the roller guides a great proportion of the required guiding has already been effected, so that the latter are greatly relieved from the shock which might otherwise result. As the tail end of the shape leaves the named intermediate pass, the

power means may be applied to revolve the roller guides and thus efiect its complete clearance. Finishing is then performed in the usual manner.

Although not mentioned, it is to be taken for granted that the structural, mill includes roughing passes where the greater proportion of the heavy work is performed, leaving the intermediate passes to bring the shape to the cross-sectional area desired and as near to the cross-section of the finishing pass as is possible. The guid ing means then functions in the manner described, and the shape is given its finishing pass.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a specific example of a structural mill embodying my invention as it may be used when rolling arched web piling, the various figures being as follows:

Figure 1, a plan of the mill,

Figure 2, a side elevation of the invention as applied to this mill,

Figure 3, a cross-section from the line IIIIII in Figure 2,

Figures 4, 5 and 6, cross-sections from the similarly numbered lines in Figure 3,

Figure '7, a cross-section of the finished shape, this indicating the shape of the finishing pass, and

Figures 8 and 9, plans of two means of powering the roller guides.

Referring to these drawings, a structural mill is illustrated as including a roughing stand 1, intermediate stand 2 and finishing stand 3, all suitably interconnected by drive shafts 4 and powered by any conventional means through a pinion stand 5. Each stand consists of at least two rolls, although the first two are generally 3-high. The only rolls illustrated in greater detail are those, marked 2, which form the leader pass of the intermediate stand, this naturally being the last of the intermediate passes and therefore are suited to illustrate 'the invention.

The roller guides 6 are mounted by a frame 7 so as to be horizontally and laterally in line with the leader pass, this frame mounting the lowermost one for vertical adjustment which may be effected by screws 8. The rollers may be provided with suitable journals which turn in bearings mounted by, this frame. A bracket 9 is mounted bythe steady-rests or cross-bars 2 of the intermediate stand and carries the frame 7.

The set of stationary guides 10 are also mounted by the cross-bars 2 and extend from a point close to or at the exit of the leader pass to one adjacent the rollers 6. These stationary guides may otherwise be mounted in any suitable manner.

As previously mentioned, the stationary guides 10 are constructed to form a guideway having a shape substantially conforming to the leader pass at its entrance and gradually changing to an approximation of that of the finishing pass as it approaches the rollers 6. The guiding pass provided by these rollers is substantially the same as that of the finishing pass to which the shape is to be sent. The various cross-sections taken at different points and the section through the leader pass show the gradual change in the shape of the guideway.

The upper one of the roller guides 6 has an extending journal 6 which is coupled by a box 11 and clutch 12 to a drive shaft 13. A motor 14 powers this drive shaft 13 through a gearing 15 and a'chain and sprocket drive 16. If the construction of the mill permits, the drive shaft 13 may be powered by a chain and sprocket gearing 1'! which connects it to one of the rolls 2. In either'case the power is applied through the clutch 12 which may be operated by a power thruster 18 through a suitable leverage system such as a bell-crank l9, rod 20 and lever 21, as illustrated.

The operation will now be described.

It is to be assumed that the arched web piling illustrated can be rolled by the mills available intermediate passes to a section shown by the section taken through the leader pass. Comparing this to the section of the finished product, it is seen that it would be practically impossible to produce it on the mill illustrated were it not for my invention. That is to say, the section must be spread considerably if the desired shape is to be attained, and this spreading is too great to attempt it by a finishing operation.

As the shape leaves the leader pass it is driven thereby through the stationary guides 10. These gradually alter its shape to an approximation of that desired, complete alteration being accomplished by the roller guides 6. As the section has been greatly altered before the shape reaches these roller guides, there is little shock occasioned by its entry into the guiding pass formed thereby. As soon as the latter guides receive the shape, the stationary guides are relieved and function mainly to steady and restrain. There is no longer any force to drive the shape through the guiding means when its tail end leaves the rolls 2, so the power thruster 18 may be operated by the roller from his pulpit, so that power is applied to revolve the roller guides and to thereby completely clear the shape. The finishing operation is then performed in the usual manner. Of course, the clutch may be of any construction and operated in any manner, the necessary thing being the application of power. However, some shapes may be cleared without this help, such as when little guiding is done or the shapes are light.

Although the example is illustrated as rolling arched web piling, it is to be understood that the invention is applicable wherever the limitations of a mill are such that a shape cannot be properly rolled because it cannot be brought to the proper section for finishing. Further, that either the roller guides or the stationary guides may be used alone. If, the roller guides are omitted, the stationary guides should, of course, be constructed to provide a guideway whose shape-at its exiting end is very close to or identical with that of the finishing pass. However, as the finishing passwill usually receive a shape requiring some little alteration in its cross-section, an approximation may often be sufiicient. Although the leader pass is chosen for the illustrative disclosure, the operation may be performed at other passes.

I claim:

1, A structural mill including rolls providing intermediate and finishing passes and, in combination therewith, a set of roller guides arranged to receive shapes while being worked through said intermediate passes and before being worked through said finishing pass, said guides being constructed to provide a guiding pass of substantially the same shape as that of a succeeding pass.

2. A structural mill including the combination of rolls providing intermediate and finishing passes, a set of roller guides arranged in line with one of said intermediate passes to receive shapes exiting therefrom and constructed to provide a guiding pass of substantially the same shape as that of a succeeding pass, and means for revolving said roller guides.

3. A structural mill including the combination of rolls providing intermediate and finishing passes, a set of roller guides arranged in line with the last of said intermediate passes to receive shapes exiting therefrom and constructed to provide a guiding pass of substantially the same shape as that of said finishing pass, and a set of stationary guides arranged between said roller guides and said last of said intermediate passes to lead work from the latter to the former, said stationary guides being constructed to provide a guideway having ashape substantially corresponding to that 01' said last 01. said intermediate passes at its entrance and gradually changing to an approximation of that of said finishing pass.

4. A structural mill including the combination of rolls providing intermediate and finishing passes, a set of roller guides arranged in line with the last of said intermediate passes to receive shapes exiting therefrom and constructed to provide a guiding pass of substantially the same shape as that of said finishing pass, a set oi. stationary guides arranged between said roller guides and said last of said intermediate to lead shapes from the latter to the former, said stationary guides being constructed to provide a guideway having a shape substantially corresponding to that of said last 01' said intermediate passes at its entrance and gradually changing to an approximation of that of said finishing pass as it approaches said roller guides, and power means for revolving said roller guides.

HAROLD P. INGRAM. 

